SCOUT NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1933, Page 20

SCOUT NOTES

(By "Scouter.") All S_M.'s, A.S-M.'s, CM.'si and A.C.M.'s are reminded of the conference to be held at Headquarters, 05 Courtenay Place, on Saturday at 2 p.m. The conference of D.SJkL's, D.CM.'s, and District Secretaries held last Saturday was well attended. 7D.S.M. Donkin was in the chair-. A pleasant afternoon was spent, during which a general discussion oa methods of training took place, i Various phases of actual work were brought forward, and an interchange of ideas that had been found useful by various officers led to discussions that should be helpful to those present. It was resolved to hold another meeting on April 8 at 7.30 p.m. . A swimming competition, for Rovers only, will be held at tho Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, on Saturday, February 25, at 7.30 p.m. Entries will be accepted by the Metropolitan Secretary up to the last post on Monday, February 20. The Lyall Bay Group are asked to note that the parade nights have been changed. The Scouts now meet on Wednesdays and Cubs on Thursdays. Entries for the campcraft competitions close with the Metropolitan Secretary on March 20. A number of S.M.'e have intimated their intention to enter a patrol, but there is room lor more. Sir A. W. Robin, Metropolitan Commissioner, and the Metropolitan Secretary visited the Second Lower Hutt Group last Thursday on the occasion of a parents' night. Miss Robin and acting-D.C.M. Wood aiso attended. A large number of parents were present. Forty-four Scoutal under-Mr. Clark were on parade, accompanied by CM. Miss Livingstone and her five sixers. The guests of the evening were greeted by the Dominion haka, after which the flag was broken out. The Commissioner inspected the troop. He told the boys a campfire yarn, which was much appreciated. The chief event of the evening. then took place, the Commissioner presenting to Scout William Taylor a letter from, the Chief Scout for New_ Zealand, his Excellency the Governor-General, in which' his Excellency congratulated the Scout on the Scout-like manner in which he had rescued a brother Scout who had got into difficulties while swimming in the Hutt .River. Cheers and applause followed the presentation, after which the rescued boy called for three cheers for his rescuer and brother Scout. The Commissioner afterwards presented by the Ipise ceremony provisional warrants to E. Tait (A.C.M.) and Johnson( A.S.M.). The G-.S.M. was presented with his Part H Wood Badge certificate. The Commissioner then introduced the new secretary. Mr. Watson said he would he very pleased to see any of those present at any time if they cared to call at Headquarters. Mr. R. Nelson, District Commissioner, addressing the parents, emphasised the need for each group to* if possible, be possessed of its own den, and urging those present, as far as they possibly could, to help in this. He pointed out that i£ the lads had a den of their own they could make it "Scouty" by many ways, and, moreover, it would be far better if the lads :were the owners of their own den. The. chairman, Mr. Brown, enforced the District. Commissioner's remarks, and then with an appropriate speech presented P.L. Wishard, P.L.- Pilcher, and Second Halse with their cooks' badges, and T.L. Dyer and Second . Halse with their pioneers'. badges. The ladies provided siipper-V ':.'.. 7 . 7 Regular meetings are again in full swing after the holiday. Today the Petone Sea Scouts farewell Commissioner Commander Young"On his departure for England. The Evans Bay Sea Scouts hold a special display on February^ 17- and on February 18 tho first Petone Rover Crew celebrates its first- birthday. On February 22 the Ist Lower Hutt group and committee meet, and February 25 will see the Rovers swimming competitions, at the Riddiford Baths. On Sunday, Februaiy 26, the Scouts and Guides will attend a special service to be held at St. Paul's. Pro-Cathedral, ,this day being the nearest Sunday to the birthdays of the Chief Scout and Chief Guide. District Commissioners are making arrangements in their own districts. .A strong committee, with Mr. W. Horrobin as chairman, and Mr. Len Bryant as secretary, has been formed in connection with the Ist Ohariu Valley Scout Group. My. A. P. Ralph is the Scoutmaster. The boys meet at the Ohariu School every Wednesday afternoon. Though the troop was only formed last year progress has been very satisfactory. . The Berhampore Scout Troop is again alive, a detachment of Tenderfeet from the Wolf Cub Pack, which same pack is very much alive, making this possible. There is also a small patrol of Rovers, making Berhampore a complete group. Commissioner Colpus, of the Hill District, has received his warrant. Scoutmaster Day, of the Hutt Valley, is now in charge of the No. 2 Methodist Group, with A.S.M. Johnson and A.C.M. Tait as helpers. Do not forget the swimming competitions at the Riddiford Baths on March 1. Don't make a mistake in the dates. Scout's on March 1, Rovers on February 25. Entries for Scouts close on February 27 ■ and for Rovers on February 20, in both cases with the metropolitan secretary. The Lower Hutt group will be holding a: reunion and debt extinction celebration at the "Den," Strand Park (near Hutt Bridge), on Wednesday, February 22, at 7 o'clock. Will all old members who read this column, or anyone-knowing of any old member, please advise Scoutmaster F. L. McKenzie, Grenville Street, Woburn, Lower Hutt, for we are anxious to get into direct touch with every one of them. The troop was founded by Mr. W. Mason on January 22, 1915, and- we are pleased to say that "Pa" will be with •us.at.the reunion.' We hope to form an Old Scouts' Association. connected with the group, and any assistance afforded will be.. greatly appreciated. The D.C.M. presided at the first meeting for the-year of Hutt Valley and Boys' Old Wolves Rock, Council. There were .20 members present. Advice was received that permission had been granted by TDominion headquarters for an Akela Wood Badge Camp to be held during Easter week 1933, at Wirihana, Lowry Bay It was agreed that 32 be the maximum number attending the camp, that any vacanj*".!l. filled by candidates in the Wellington area. Complete details regarding the camp are to be announced shortly. .Much appreciation was expressed of the news that Mr. W. J. Phillips, of the Dominion Museum; had promised to help in every way with the teaching of Maori handicrafts, and with this in view arrangements were made to hold the 'next meeting of old wolves at Wirihana, when Mr. Phillips will be present, and the whole afternoon will be devoted to Maori Zm\e. *Mt?\ te. van£ camp firo tllere will be special celebrations in honour of -Kaukawa and Kiwi's approaching marriage.